Psalms 78:1
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Original Language Analysis
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה
Give ear
H238
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה
Give ear
Strong's:
H238
Word #:
1 of 7
to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e., (by implication) to listen
עַ֭מִּי
O my people
H5971
עַ֭מִּי
O my people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 7
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
תּוֹרָתִ֑י
to my law
H8451
תּוֹרָתִ֑י
to my law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
3 of 7
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
הַטּ֥וּ
incline
H5186
הַטּ֥וּ
incline
Strong's:
H5186
Word #:
4 of 7
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
Cross References
Isaiah 55:3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.Isaiah 51:4Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.Psalms 74:1O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?Psalms 50:7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.Judges 5:3Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.Psalms 51:4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.Matthew 13:9Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Historical Context
Psalm 78 is a maskil (instructional psalm) attributed to Asaph, David's chief musician (1 Chronicles 16:5). Written during or after the divided kingdom period, it traces Israel's history from the Exodus through David's reign to warn against covenant unfaithfulness. The psalm deliberately recounts both God's faithfulness and Israel's rebellion as teaching material for future generations.
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing biblical history as 'instruction' rather than mere record change how you read the Old Testament narratives?
- In what ways does your generation need to 'incline ears' to hear God's redemptive story rather than passively consuming it?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Give ear, O my people, to my law (הַאֲזִינָה עַמִּי תּוֹרָתִי)—Asaph opens this longest historical psalm with a prophetic summons using ha'azinah ("give ear"), the same imperative Moses used in Deuteronomy 32:1. The term torati ("my law/instruction") doesn't mean merely legal code but comprehensive covenant teaching, encompassing Israel's redemptive history.
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth (הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם לְאִמְרֵי־פִי)—The verb hattu ("incline/bend") demands active, intentional listening, not passive hearing. This introduction mirrors wisdom literature (Proverbs 4:20), positioning what follows as mashal (parable, v. 2)—history that teaches. Jesus would later use this psalm in Matthew 13:35 to explain why He taught in parables, revealing that Israel's covenant history itself was prophetic instruction pointing toward Messiah.